MELBOURNE
Little Eats
If you live in Melbourne or are planning a visit, a fabulous (and totally cute) website to check out is Little Eats. Little Eats is the brainchild of Jemma Reynolds -- a self confessed foodie, critique and 'super-mum' to 2 pre-schoolers. Let's face it -- dining out with kids in tow can be fraught... fraught with fear, trepidation, ...
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MELBOURNE
Melbourne's top 10 in Caos Magazine!
Recently, wonderful Spanish magazine Caos asked Babyccino if we could compile a list of the 10 top things to do when visiting the city of Melbourne. We were very excited to oblige! Here is the list written up which was of course then translated into Spanish (and which, most will agree, makes everything sound just ...
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MELBOURNE
Igloo Zoo
No matter the weather, every Friday after school my children and I head down to Igloo Zoo for a fix of creamy frozen yogurt. YUM-OH! We patiently wait behind the hoards of teenage schoolkids who are equally excited. It is pure decadence and relatively sinless (I figure) given that it is made with real yogurt ...
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HOME AND DÉCOR
Lark in Dayelsford
One place I always recommend (sometimes even insist!) our visitors to Melbourne see is the picturesque town of Dayelsford. Dayelsford is a village in rural Victoria in the heart of the Wombat Forest; so pretty, so quaint, peaceful & dignified, just as a spar town should be, but with the hippest cafes, shops and restaurants ...
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HOME AND DÉCOR
Miriam Bereson
Prolific Melbourne designer Miriam Bereson is the creator of these striking animal 'collective nouns' prints. Aren't they fabulous? Strong punchy graphics is her signature style and combined with a quirky educational element I think they would make a gorgeous and effective addition to any playroom or nursery. Hmm... am I showing my ignorance by declaring ...
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HOME AND DÉCOR
Jane Reiseger's gorgeous murals
I have long been an admirer of Jane Reiseger's whimsical, child-like murals and illustrations. Whenever I take my children to our local burger joint Grill'd in Malvern I am positively drooling over them on the walls, the menus, the brown paper bags... (nevermind that the burgers are pretty average when the walls are so beautiful!! ). ...
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KIDS
Megan Park
Ooh La la!! Megan Park is a Melbourne designer who makes the most exquisite beaded and embellished dresses -- sumptuous vintage styling with a modern edge! I tried to choose a favorite but it is impossible... I was lucky enough to face this choosing dilemma recently when a 'garden party' themed wedding invitation called for a ...
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BABY
Maiike
When a baby is born in our family, they are always gifted with a unique creation from Maiike. Maiike is an eclectic collection of ‘soft things’ lovingly handmade by Melbourne-based Aly Peel who sources old woolen and cashmere jumpers from second-hand and vintage stores and then transforms them into precious patchwork squares for cushions, scarves ...
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HOME AND DÉCOR
Third Drawer Down
I do appreciate a nice tea towel... and I'm fussy with mine. Perhaps it relates to my textile obsession. Nonetheless, I like them to be made of good quality linen, aesthetically pleasing... and generally I find, the more use they get, the better they look. Now, because of this 'pseudo fetish', much to my husband's ...
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KIDS
Australian Winter Fashion
Winter fashion is starting to hit our stores! Even though it is a ridiculous 40 degrees celcius today and the thought of wool coats is utterly unfathomable, I was just a little bit curious… I do have to concede that once upon a time my kids' wardrobes were largely imports (with the ridiculous price tags ...
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ESSENTIALS AND TIPS
Top things to do in Melbourne (part 1)
With a steady stream of visiting friends over the Christmas holidays, and many with young children, we have been busy! Whilst we treated them to the hedonistic pleasures of the Aussie beach culture, we also spent a great deal of time indoors appreciating the 'higher arts'. This can be tricky with young kids in tow, ...
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BOOKS
The Magical Milky Way's Super Galactic Zoo
Another fabulous interactive colouring book just begging to be illustrated! They seem to be popping up everywhere these days and with good reason too. Created by talented Melbournian Nicole Mandile, in the first of her My Picture Storybooks series, The Magical Milky Way's Super Galactic Zoo kept my rambunctious 4-year-old son in check on a ...
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BABY
Luna Ninos
Is this little girl not absolutely adorable? That face! That hat! The vest...! I could practically eat her up! Luna Ninos is an Australian brand I discovered when my son was a baby. They design and knit their products in Melbourne without linking, sewing or seams... making their beanies and bonnets, booties, baby blankets and cardigans comfortable and lightweight. ...
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KIDS
Little Rivet Jeans
If I had to name one wardrobe staple that my kids and I cannot live without, it would have to be our denim jeans. Sure, there are items I love more but I doubt there is an item of clothing more durable, more versatile or more enduring than a pair of well constructed denim jeans. ...
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CELEBRATIONS
Suga Candy Kitchen
With Valentine's Day approaching I am thinking that a trip to the Suga Candy Kitchen might be on the cards. This lolly shop is my kids' version of heaven. What can be more exciting, more mesmerizing than handmade, delicious rock candy made right before your eyes (to be honest, I can think of many things ...
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MELBOURNE
Family Life
Most parents discover fairly early on that if they want to meet in a cafe with friends and have any hope of conversation (one that spans more than 10 seconds), then a distraction for the children in the form of a book/toy is imperative. It allows at least some semblance of communication between the adults ...
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BOOKS
This is Australia...
It is the 17th book in the 'This is...' series and Sasek is visiting down under! This is Australia is a wonderful book to add to the classic travel series, first published in the '70s, which Courtney posted about here! In line with the later books in the series, the colours are slightly vintage and ...
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MELBOURNE
Collingwood Children's Farm
Nestled in a bend of the Yarra River, amongst the river red gum and paperbark trees (a very typical Australian setting!) is the Collingwood Children’s Farm.... a little slice of country life right in the heart of Melbourne, only 4 kilometres from the CBD. It's a magical place for city children (and adults) and an absolute favorite ...
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FOOD
Gift ideas for the Mini Master Chef
My family is in the grip of 'Masterchef' fever! My kids are so enthused by this reality television program that I practically have my youngest deriding me for not making the terrine for his school lunch. And while the downside for me is that the bar has been raised (my rather unspectacular cooking now looks ...
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KIDS
I heart Czarque shoes!
These baby loafers and ballet slippers by Australian-based company Czarque are exquisite and so, so chic. My only gripe is that they were not around when my children were babies!! They are delicate and soft, understated and .... just so very adorable! Not to mention, they come in the most gorgeous of textures (honestly, I'm ...
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KIDS
Seed
Well… it’s almost summer here and we all know what that means: summer clothes! I always find it exciting shopping for summer clothes – it’s the promise of hot days on the beach, long balmy evenings, lashings of sorbet, endless swimming and those delicious summer fruits…. and as much as we complain about the heat ...
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BEAUTY & CARE
Aesop -- an Aussie classic!
I thrash my hands. Hot water, cleaning products, using my fingernails as tools... you name it... most mothers will understand! As a result, my hands are often flaky and dry -- not unlike sandpaper. Over the years I have tried dozens of hand lotions, but none have worked their magic like a potion from Australian ...
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FOOD
KeepCup and save the environment
The only thing marring the great pleasure I get from my take-away morning coffee is guilt... and I don't mean the guilt I feel when I add my two teaspoons of sugar! Rather the guilt I feel when I toss away my disposable, un-recyclable paper coffee cup. Australians use approximately 500 million disposable cups a year ...
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